Many years ago I speculatively purchased a pair of Murphy Models/Bachmann mark 2as, later adding the second pair. With a DC generator van, what I needed was more coaches. Along came IRM and their UK subsidiary so at Warley and DEMU I frequently suggested that the 2b and 2c coaches would be a great idea. And now here they are! The livery is a perfect match for the earlier coaches, the printing if anything a bit crisper, and with interior lighting they quite literally outshine the older coaches!
The different arrangement of roof and toilet window vents are well depicted. These were originally three different types of coach. One was a former mk2b FK with twin hemispherical roof vents for each compartment, one former 2c FK with seven flatter staggered roof vents and two later 2c FOs with six staggered roof vents and the distinctive toilet windows without ventilators.
My only criticism, if one has to be unkind, is that the interiors are 2+1 seating whereas I think these coaches were converted to 2+2. This is based on Irish Railways traction and travel (1994) which lists the coaches as 54 seaters.
In general though, the models come superbly packaged in a strong and stylish presentation box, a work of art in its own right. Now I just need another EGV to run as two sets, though this was something which rarely happened in practice. These were not the most popular coaches with train staff by all accounts!
